Warts are widespread epidermal growths caused by diverse strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that affect all age groups. As in the case of palmoplantar warts, they are typically asymptomatic and unattractive, but occasionally painful. In spite of treatment, recalcitrant warts grow in size and number and are resistant to standard therapeutic approaches. Vaccine and antigen therapy are assumed to work by stimulating the host immune system into recognizing the virus, which leads to the removal of warts that is known as intralesional immunotherapy.
Vaccination against Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is linked to the induction of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Recent use of intralesional HBV vaccination as an immunotherapy for common warts has been relatively unsuccessful.
The viral etiology of warts implies that acyclovir, an antiviral medication with demonstrated efficacy against DNA viruses, may be a viable treatment option.
This literature review aimed to discuss the comparative efficacy of intralesional HBV vaccination and acyclovir in treating plantar warts.